Chapter 147

Chapter 147

The sound of cracking firecrackers couldn't match the shock in Lu Yao's heart.

The current Prime Minister was actually here at their inn for a meal? Good heavens, it felt like a stroke of luck, leaving him dazed for a while.

Originally, Liu Cheng'en had gone to visit his old teacher. As Lin Lao Ye was dressing to go out, he saw him arrive and smiled, "Lin Yuan, you’ve come just in time. Come with me for a meal later."

"Why is my respected teacher in the mood to dine out today?"

"A friend’s inn is opening, and I’m going to check it out."

Liu Cheng'en was curious. His teacher rarely went out these days and was famously hard to invite. He didn’t expect him to go out for an inn.

In the private room, Liu Cheng'en and Lin Jingxian were drinking tea. The tea was homemade barley tea made by Lu Yao, which had a golden color and a naturally sweet taste of wheat, refreshing and soothing.

"This tea is quite good. Do you know the innkeeper?"

"We’re more than acquaintances; we’re from the same hometown. The Zhao Beidou I mentioned last time is his younger brother."

Liu Cheng'en sat up straight in surprise, "Is the Zhao family in business?"

"Beidou's sister-in-law is in business, but he isn’t considered of the merchant class."

Liu Cheng'en nodded and looked around, "To open such a large shop in Shang Jing, their family must be quite well-off."

Master Lin waved his hand with a smile, "Not really. Earlier, their family sold breakfast in a town. Later, to exempt Beidou and his older brother from corvée labor, they sent the children to take the imperial examinations. At that time, I happened to bring Zijian back to my hometown to recuperate. Seeing that kid was diligent and eager to learn, I called him over to teach him. I didn’t expect him to be so talented."

This astonished Liu Cheng'en. After years in the officialdom, he understood how hard it was for children from poor families to succeed. Both knowledge and family background were crucial. The Zhao family was indeed capable, managing to open such a large inn and support their children’s education. His curiosity about this family grew even more!

Many guests had arrived today. Except for the neighboring Shi family, almost everyone had come. There were three tables upstairs and two tables downstairs in the private rooms.

Several more tables of guests arrived later, all coming for the Lu Family's reputation.

*

The Lu Family Inn was quite famous in Ping Prefecture. Many merchants remembered it after just one visit. Now that it has opened in Shang Jing, they naturally had to come and try the food.

Around the time of the Snake Hour, Lu Yao began serving pre-meal snacks.

These pastries were freshly baked that morning. The dense little cakes contained milk and raisins. One bite was sweet and soft, and even those who didn’t like sweets couldn’t help but praise their taste.

Lin Jingxian, who didn’t have the best teeth, found these little cakes just right. He sighed as he ate, "Don’t laugh at me, but I’ve been craving this taste for years. None of the shops in Shang Jing can replicate it. It’s truly delicious!"

Liu Cheng'en was amused by his teacher and also picked one to try. The soft cake melted on his tongue, and the taste was indeed excellent.

After the sweets, the cold dishes began to arrive.

There was a plate of peanuts and lotus root salad, and a platter of cold cuts including marinated pig's ear strips, cucumber strips, and homemade sausage slices.

The cold dishes were average, with only the cucumber being a novelty.

Speaking of the cucumber, it was thanks to the Chamber of Commerce's efforts. Normally, there were no cucumbers sold in winter, but there was a farm in Shang Jing with heated greenhouses that supplied vegetables year-round. Of course, the prices were high, with each cucumber costing seventy wen.

Upstairs, the Chamber of Commerce members picked up their chopsticks and tried the cold dishes. "I thought the Lu family had some great skills, but these dishes are just average."

The cold dishes don’t showcase the chef’s true abilities, but the next dish began to open their eyes.

"These are the Four Joy Meatballs. I remember back in Qiushui Town, Grandpa Lin especially loved eating them." Lu Yao carried the dish and personally delivered it to the table of the two men.

"You still remember?" Lin Jingxian said happily, his mustache twitching.

"Of course, I remember."

"Lin Yuan, try it. These meatballs are different from the ones made in Shang Jing. They are soft and fresh."

Liu Cheng'en picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. "The taste is indeed excellent."

Lu Yao's heart pounded excitedly. The person in front of him was the Prime Minister! A top-ranking official, second only to the emperor and above countless others. He couldn't believe he was actually seeing him in person!

"Please enjoy your meal. If you need anything, just call for me."

"Alright." Grandpa Lin wasn't polite and soon ate half a meatball himself.

Soon, the second hot dish was served—Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. This dish was tender and delicious, made with precious ingredients, and naturally very popular with the noblewomen upstairs.

The round table upstairs, designed by Lu Yao, was a double-layered rotating table. At first, the guests didn’t know how to use it, but after the staff demonstrated, everyone was amazed again.

Madam Deng clapped her hands, saying, "Oh, this table is wonderful! We don't even need to stand up to pick dishes."

The third dish was Braised Carp.

At the merchant table, someone found fault. "The fish isn't that great. The carp has many bones, and the meat isn't firm. It's not as good as the steamed perch at Chang He Ju."

"Then don't eat it."

The man was speechless but, seeing others eating and praising it, couldn't help swallowing. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and his cheeks instantly turned red with embarrassment. The fish was really quite good...

The fourth, fifth, sixth dishes followed...

When the final signature dish, roast duck, was served, Xiaochun's exquisite knife skills completely won over the diners.

Thin as cicada wing pancakes, wrapped with fine scallion strips, filled with crispy and tender roast duck and sweet bean sauce—everyone gave a thumbs up when they put it in their mouths.

Even Liu Xiang, who wasn't focused on food, ate until he was full. The Lu Family Inn really had some skills!

The guests upstairs were already drinking merrily. The Lu Wine was delicious—smooth and fragrant, warming the throat and settling in the stomach, making the whole body feel comfortable.

President Huo said, "This Lu Wine lives up to the rumors! It’s really strong!"

Even the man who had been picking faults had to admit that the Lu Wine was the smoothest he had ever tasted.

He changed his tune and began to highly praise the Lu Family Inn. Outside, Zhao Beichuan was grinning from ear to ear. You’re still under my control, aren’t you?

*

It was nearly noon when Zhao Beidou and Lin Zijian returned from the Imperial Academy.

Upon entering the main hall, Lin Zijian exclaimed, "It smells so delicious! Beidou, I’m starving!"

Zhao Beidou laughed and pulled him toward the back kitchen. "Second Brother, do you still have food left?"

"Yes, what would you like? I’ll make it for you."

"Try the roast duck, stir-fried triple delight, and sautéed pork intestines!"

Just as they were talking, Lu Yao came over and said, "Zijian, your grandfather is downstairs. Aren't you going to see him?"

"Eh? Grandpa is here!" Lin Zijian immediately pulled Zhao Beidou and ran toward the main hall.

In a private room, Grandpa Lin was researching the thin pancakes used for wrapping the roast duck with Liu Cheng'en. Seeing the two young men approach, he waved them over, saying, "Come on over, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Join us."

Lin Zijian sat down next to Grandpa Lin and, upon recognizing the person opposite him, stood up in surprise. "Zijian pays his respects to Uncle Liu!"

"No need for formalities, sit down. I was just talking about you with our mentor earlier. This must be Beidou, come and sit next to me."

Not having met Liu Cheng'en before and unaware of his status, Zhao Beidou assumed he was just another student of Grandfather Lin. He followed Lin Zijian's lead, bowing and calling him Uncle Liu, before sitting down beside him.

"Hmm, the pancakes you use for wrapping the duck are as thin and soft as silk," Liu Cheng'en remarked.

"I don't know the details; they're made by my sister-in-law. She's an incredible cook!"

Liu Cheng'en smiled. "She is indeed quite skilled. Your Lu Wine is also excellent." He had just shared a small cup with Grandpa Lin, and the strong alcohol content had already warmed his cheeks.

"My sister-in-law also makes the wine. She can also make tofu, roast meat, and cold noodles..." Zhao Beidou, a typical admirer of his sister-in-law, couldn't help but boast about how amazing she was, hoping everyone knew.

Lin Zijian, anxious across from him, gave him exaggerated eye signals.

"Zijian, is something wrong with your eyes?"

"No, no... You said you were hungry, so let's eat."

Zhao Beidou didn't hold back and started eating with enthusiasm.

Once they had finished eating, Lin Jingxian asked the two about what they had learned at the Imperial Academy that day.

The two put down their chopsticks and began to explain. Compared to Lin Zijian’s talent, Zhao Beidou seemed slightly lacking, but he excelled in strategic debates rather than poetry and literature.

As Grandpa Lin put it, Zhao Beidou's writing was sharp and incisive, much like Liu Linyuan's.

After they discussed their time at the Imperial Academy, Lin Jingxian brought up several current topics for the two to debate.

Zhao Beidou's presence was so overwhelming that Lin Zijian could hardly get a word in, finally muttering weakly, "I can't debate with Beidou... He's too eloquent."

Lin Jingxian couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the two boys. Liu Cheng'en stroked his beard and nodded slightly in approval.

*

In the blink of an eye, it was February, with only five days left until the imperial examinations.

During this time, the Lu Family's restaurant had become incredibly popular in Shang Jing.

The restaurant had hosted countless guests, ranging from ordinary merchants to high-ranking officials. Lu Yao, not wanting to take on too many tables and risk being overwhelmed, limited the number to a maximum of twenty tables a day, with reservations booked until the middle of February.

Somehow, the news that Liu Xiang had visited the Lu Family Inn spread, attracting many people who wanted to check it out, giving it a vibe similar to a modern-day internet-famous restaurant.

Guests quickly fell in love with the place. It wasn't just the famous Lu Wine but also the delicious roast duck that was a must-try!

Almost every table ordered the roast duck, and the backyard ovens were working so hard they were almost sparking.

Some guests who couldn't book a table would still buy a roast duck to take home. At first, many found it expensive, thinking a five-liang silver duck must be made of gold, as you could buy dozens of live ducks for the same price!

But after trying it once, they no longer found it expensive. The crispy and tender duck slices, paired with sweet sauce and wrapped in thin pancakes, were simply unmatched.

Most importantly, there was no substitute!

Other restaurants tried to replicate the success of the Lu Family's duck, but they either undercooked the duck or used pancakes that were too thick, or their sauce wasn't as flavorful. Over time, the Lu Family Inn became the sole place for that unique experience.

The restaurant was busy from morning to night, and thanks to Zhang Qiulan and Xiao Nian's help, Lu Yao was able to manage. Otherwise, with his current health, he wouldn't have been able to keep up.

In just half a month, the restaurant's revenue reached an astonishing 4,300 taels, with a net income of about 3,700 taels after costs and wages, far surpassing Lu Yao’s expectations!

At this rate, it won't take a year to recoup the costs and make a profit from this shop!

While reviewing the accounts at night, Zhao Beichuan, holding him around the waist, was too tired to keep his eyes open.

"Beichuan, I'm planning to divide the shop's shares into three parts. I'll give one part to Xiaochun, one to Beidou, and the remaining will be ours. What do you think?"

Zhao Beichuan hummed in agreement, "What about Xiaonian?"

"The distillery will be handed over to Ma Kuan and her in the future. I plan to allocate twenty percent of the shares to Xiaonian." The distillery's profits surpass even those of the tavern and are stable year-round, with an annual net income of around 80,000 taels of silver. The couple held three-tenths of the shares, earning over 20,000 taels a year, which was indeed a substantial amount.

"Alright, you handle the arrangements." Zhao Beichuan placed his hand on his slightly swollen belly, now the size of an overturned bowl, having grown significantly over the past six months.

The baby inside suddenly moved, surprising Zhao Beichuan. "Ah Yao! Your belly moved!"

"Did it?"

Lu Yao lifted his shirt, and in the candlelight, they watched his smooth belly. The baby was quite cooperative, moving again shortly after, and this time both of them saw it.

Excitedly, Zhao Beichuan pressed his face against the belly. "Baby, can you hear me? I'm your father."

"Haha... How could he possibly hear you."

"He can hear. Baby, be good?" After calling out for a while with no further movement, Zhao Beichuan kissed the belly. "He must be tired. You should rest too, don't disturb the baby."

Lu Yao blew out the candle and nestled into his husband's arms, drifting into sleep.

*

On the morning of the fifth day of the second lunar month.

The family stood at the door, seeing Beidou off to the examination hall.

"Did you bring everything? Brushes, ink, towels, food, and a jar of ginger candy? It gets cold at night, so don't catch a cold."

Zhao Beidou, holding the examination basket, patiently replied, "I've brought everything. I have three brushes, the inkstone, and the Su inkstone you bought for me. All the food is packed."

Lu Yao reached out to adjust his collar. "Do your best in the exam. Don't feel pressured. Even if you only pass as a Jinshi, it's okay."

Zhao Beidou's eyes turned slightly red. "Sister-in-law, rest assured. I will aim for a top rank!"

"Go then."

Zhao Beichuan drove his brother to the examination hall. The others didn't go, as their presence would only add unnecessary pressure on the child. Moreover, the tavern couldn't do without someone to oversee things.

When they arrived, the staff were cleaning. Zhang Qiulan helped Lu Yao to a chair at the back.

"Sister-in-law, we're running low on wine. There are only six jars left, which will last at most ten days."

"It's fine. Once Beidou finishes his exams, he'll return to marry you. We can get more wine from Ping Prefecture then."

Mentioning the wedding, Zhang Qiulan's eyes lit up with excitement.

Lu Yao had always been curious about the dynamics between these two. He always felt that his younger brother seemed... a bit overwhelmed by this person.

Zhang Qiulan was unlike any young master he had met. In both personality and mannerisms, he was more like a man. Perhaps it was because he had lost his mother at a young age and had been raised by his father, starting to help with the business at the age of ten. He lacked the usual reserve and shyness of typical young masters.

In contrast, Xiaochun was much more introverted. He had been more outgoing when he first arrived, but working in the kitchen over the years had made him increasingly reserved. Sometimes, even when encouraged by Lu Yao to go out and relax, he would just return after buying groceries.

However, the two were quite compatible. If both had been equally strong-willed, they wouldn't have made such a good pair as husbands.

"After the wedding, this shop will be handed over to you and Xiaochun to manage. I may need to stay in Ping Prefecture until after the baby is born before returning."

"This... How can this be..."

Seeing Zhang Qiulan's panic, Lu Yao took his hand. "Don't rush to refuse. I believe in your abilities and Xiaochun's culinary skills. This tavern will allocate thirty percent of its profits to you two."

Zhang Qiulan was completely stunned. He hadn't expected Lu Yao to go this far. He had thought they would manage the shop and receive a monthly allowance. He hadn't anticipated receiving thirty percent of the profits.

He knew how profitable the tavern was, and the more he realized this, the more conflicted he felt. "Sister-in-law, rest assured. I will not let you down!"